470 



North ameimcan bird.- 



The American Ciiekoos diller from ilie Eiiro])ean (Cucidm) l)y having 

 lengthened naked tarsi, instead of very short featliered ones. The nostrils, 

 too, are elongated instead of rounded. The habits of the two are entirely 



Coccys^vs amerieanus. 



different, the American species rearing their own young, instead of laying 

 the eggs in the nests of other birds, like the European Cuckoo and the 

 American ('owl)ird (Molothnfs prcons). 



The following synopsis will serve to distinguish the Xorth American .spe- 

 cies of Coir//ijii<i, with their more nearly related southern allies, all of them 

 being of a light greenish color al)ove, tinged with ashy towards the head : — 



Species and Varieties. 



A* Tail-featliors except two miiltllo ones black, with broad, sharply defined 

 terminal spaces of wliite. 



a. Low(M" niamlililc yellow. 



C. amerieanus. Beneath pure white, with an ashy .<;hade across the 

 jui^nliini. Inn^T wel>s of primaries mostly rufons. Anriculars nearly 

 concolor with the nape. Lenirth, 12.00; wincr, 5.45; tail, 5.64: cul- 

 men, 1.00 : tarsus. .90. Ifih. United States (very rare in the West- 

 ern Provinoe). .lamaita. Porto Rico. 



2. C. minor. Pcncath ochraceous, j^enerally paler anteriorly. Inner 

 we1>s of iirimaiifs without anv rufous. Auriculars Itlackish, con- 

 .spicnously didcrrnt from the napo. Leniith. 12.00: winir, ,5.30 ; tail, 

 7.50: irraduation of tail. 2.75. Tail-spots ahout 1.00 lonpr- Hah. 

 Wjvst Indies, and Xorthern and Eastern South America, Southern 

 Florida. 



b. Lower inandilile Mackish like the upper (pale l>lue in life). 



o. C. melanocoryphus.* Colors similar to those of T'. minor, hut 

 upper parts more hrown. Winsr. 4.50; tail. 5..'*5: jrra<luation of the 

 tail, 2.00. Tail-^pots about .50 louff. Ilah. South America (Buenos 

 Ayres, Peru. La Plata. Cayenne, etc.). 



1 Coroi/fHs mrhr,ioror>(/>Jn's, Vif.illot, Xouv. Diet. VIH, 271. — ScLATEU, Catul. 18G2, 323. 

 — In. P. Z. S. 1S«;4, 122. 



